ve me in those offices, he
found the finest fleet of galleons which those islands have had, with
which they could defend themselves from the enemies who infest them;
provision of the metals necessary for casting artillery, and fifty
molds for casting the pieces every two days; and the infantry in good
discipline, clothing in abundance, and the ships for Nueva Espana ready
to lade. Possession had been taken in my name of the island of Hermosa,
which is eighteen leguas from the mainland of China, in the year six
hundred and twenty-six, by which it will always be safe for the wealth
of that kingdom to pass by there, without the enemy being able to
hinder them (their fortress being very well fortified by nature). You
were married in those islands to Dona Maria de Salazar, granddaughter
of one of the earliest and most prominent conquistadors and settlers
of the islands, and your father-in-law was the first Spaniard born in
the said islands; [7] and, in commemoration of the services which the
aforesaid performed, the encomienda of Butuan and Oton was given to
them, which they enjoyed. I conceded the favor of prolonging to the
said Dona Maria de Salazar, your wife, the same encomienda for one
generation more, by a decree of February twenty-four, six hundred
and twenty-two; and to it shall succeed the person to whom it shall
belong and pertain according to the law of succession. You went to
the said islands solely for the purpose of serving me in the said
duties, and incurred many expenses on the voyage, and enjoyed only
slightly more than one year's salary. You have a desire to continue
in my service, petitioning me that, in order that you may be able to
do so, and in remuneration of the forbears of your wife, I employ you
without the prohibition imposed on absentees, ordering that they may
not enjoy the income from their encomiendas of Indians, preventing
you therefrom; and [that you be allowed] to appoint a representative
[of the encomienda] to the satisfaction of my governor of the said
islands as is the usual custom. The matter having been examined in
my royal Council of the Indias, I have considered it proper to give
the present. By it I give permission to you, the said Don Fernando
de Silva, to be absent for the space of eight years from the said
encomienda, together with all your household and goods, in Nueva Espana
or in any other part where I may employ you, provided that you leave
the representative and all the rest t